Boudoir Gossip on Frocks and Fashions

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 742, 18 March 1893, Page 3

Boudoir Gossip on Frocks and Fashions

(Bx Gladys)

Miss Moss-Davis looked charming- in Queen-street the other day in a stylish silver grey gown with large puffs on the sleeves of creme silk : creme hat. Mrs Ware wore a tasteful oreme costume and pretty black lace hat ; Miss Dacre, pretty reseda ■ green' dress, black lace hat; Mrs H. Haines, neat black dress with creme silk Empire sash, small creme hat. Mr* W. R Bloomfield looked nice in a black corselet skirt and dainty white blouse, large hat with feathers. Mrs Skipwith, pretty grey costume, hat to correspond. Miss Wright, pretty light grey dress, hat to match. Miss Harrison, handsome fawn costume, black hat. Miss Martin, pretty creme serge costume, creme hat. The Empire dress, made as a tightfitting princess gown o± satin or silk, with jewelled, embroidered, or fancy net falling full from the neck, back and front, is exceedingly choice and elegant, and with this style very large puff sleeves are correct. The transparent material per' mits the figure being shown, and is a particularly becoming style to slight or medium figures. Prills are added to both but-door and in-door garments, for the tendency is to give as much width to the shoulders as possible. The Empire and Victoria dresses have brought white satin, pearls, and necklets into favour once more, and there is a chance of black eatin coming in for day gowns. Attention is still given to the bodice which is elaborately trimmed with lace, pearls and jewels, "while the skirt is plain or nearly ao, and many houses are using the gored aud bell shapes, which are quite wide round the lower edge. Satin and velvet or velveteen are much used for plain princess gowns, which for evening wear lace at the back, and as a finish to the skirt a thicii roll of plaiting of ooloure i velvet. The neck is mostly cue r- und and well off the shoulders with a profusion of chiffon or creamy lace as a finish, while the sleeves are quite large puffs. Fur promises to be even more popular as a trimming for evening gowns than it was last season, and white satin a favourite - material for , the fur to adorn. White velvet trimmed with sable makes aniieal gown, only possible to fortune's favourites, howeve . White or pale tinted satin with beaver borders is its pleasing substitute for the woman of more limited means. In bonnets there is little new just now, except they are increasing in size, especially at the sides, and are heavily ornamented with jet and rich galoons of different kind?. Hats have superseded bonnets very generally, even for eJderJy ladies and matrons. When the cold weather is really upon us doubtless the bonnet will be restored to favour. Butterfly bows in ribbon and velvet will be popular in millinery, .and there is a tendency to trimming head-gear of all kinds high in front. Shot velvets, tartans, and parti-coloured materials are among the importations for autumn hats, and will doubtless continue fashionable to a certainextent throughout the season. The dressmaking class is one of the new whims of leisurely women at Home. It began last winter, and promises to be even more popular this season. Several ladies unite? in engaging a competent instructor, and ar<3 taught the techinque of the dressmakers' art in its most minute and practical details. Each pupil is expected to make one gown entirely herself before her course of lessons is finished. The idea, I think, is an excellent one. Woollen crepons, tweeds, and light makes of both cloth and homespun are being used to compose costumes for early autumn wear. These are mostly in neutral tints, either plain, chequered, or woven with a broche pattern m a contrasting tone. Tailor styles of dressmaking are as popular as ever, and these gowns prove the most useful, as they can bo worn alike for morning or afternoon. Crepon and other light woollen fabrics make up well with pretty, fussy-looking bodices, and thus form dressy costumes for visiting.